Can-washing machine



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1 P. A. SEUFERT. CAN WASHING MACHINE.

No. 582,509. Patented May 11,1897.

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(No Model.) 2 Shets-Sheet 2.

F. A. SEUFERT. CAN WASHING 111101111111.

WITI VE888: I v BY I A i ATTORNEYS.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

FRANK ANTHONY SEUFERT', OF THE DALLES, OREGON.

CAN-WASHING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 582,509, dated May 11, 1897.

Application filed November 25, 1896. Serial No. 613,412. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern- Be it known that I, FRANK ANTHONY SE'U- FERT, of The Dalles, in the county of Wasco and State of Oregon, have invented a new and Improved Can-Washing Machine, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact de scription.

The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved can-Washingmachine more especially designed for use in canneries for automatically and properly cleaning the cans after they are filled with fish, preserves, or other canned goods.

The invention consists principally of two oppositely-arranged brushes with their adj acent runs rotating in opposite directions and between which pass the cans to be cleaned, the brushes turning the said cans and thereby cleaning their sides.

The invention also consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a plan View of the improvement. Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the same.

The improved can-washin g machine is provided with a suitably-constructed frame A, on which is secured or formed a longitudinallyextending table B, over which passes a feedbelt 0, of rubber or other material, and adapted to carry the filled-cans D forward under a longitudinally-extending cover E, made in the form of a board, for preventing water or other matter from passing into the open tops of the cans as the same are moved forwardly by the belt O. The cover E is held vertically adj ustable, and for this purpose the cover is secured on screw-rods E, adapted to be adjusted vertically and laterally in suitable brackets E attached to the frame-A.

The cans D as they are carried along by the feed-belt C under the cover E are engaged on opposite sides by brushes F F, mounted so that their adjacent runs travel in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows a I). (See Fig. 1.) The brushes F and F are in the form of endless belts disposed vertically and extending between the feed-belts C. and the cover E, and as the adjacent edges of said belts travel in opposite directions and are arranged on opposite sides of the cans it is evident that the cans are turned by the brushes, and in turning the cans their sides are cleaned. The endless brush F is held on sprocketchains passing over sprocket-wheels G G, of which the sprocket-wheels G are journaled in a bracket H, secured to the frame A, and the other sprocket-wheels G are secured on a shaft G likewise journaled in a bracket H, attached to the frame. On the upper end of the shaft G is secured a beveled gear-wheel G in mesh with a pinion I, attached to a transversely-extending shaft J, mounted to turn in suitable bearings on the bracket H. Fast and loose pulleys J are secured on the shaft J and are connected with other machinery for imparting a rotary motion to the shaft in the direction of the arrow 0" The brush F is likewise held on sprocket-chains passing over the sprocket-wheels G and G, of which the sprocket-wheels G are journaled in a bracket H held transversely adjustable on the frame A by means .of a screw-rod K, mounted to turn in a lug on the frame A and engaging a nut on the bracket H as is plainly indicated in Fig. 2. The other sprocketwheels G are secured on a shaft G, on the upper end of which is secured a beveled gearwheel G in mesh with a beveled gear-wheel I, fitted to slide on and turn with the shaft J, previously mentioned, the hub of the gearwheel I being mounted 'to turn in suitable bearings in the bracket H This bracket H is adaptedto be adjusted laterally by a screwrod K, similar to the screw-rod The brackets H and H are rigidly connected with each other bya plate H and move in unison toadvance or retract the belt F with reference to the belt F. The frame A has slotted guide-arms K respectively receiving bolts K projecting from the plate H, which rests on the arms. By these means the brackets H and H are mounted to operate as described.

By the arrangement described the brush F may be moved inward or forward from the other brush F, according to the diameter of the cans under treatment.

It is evident that when the shaftJ is rotated as previously described the beveled gearwheels I I impart a simultaneous rotary movement by the beveled gear-wheels G G7 to the shafts G2 G, respective1y,so that the sprocket- Wheels G G are rotated and a traveling motion is given to the brushes F F in the direction of the arrows a I). By the arrangement described each of the cans D is turned around several times by the brushes before it passes over the machine at the discharge end of the cover E, so that a thorough cleaning of each can-body is obtained. Coverings X are arranged 011 the brackets H H and H H for the outer rims of the brushes F and F' to prevent the Water from splashing outward.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. A can-washing machine having a frame, two oppositely arranged endless brushes mounted on the frame and to have their adjacent runs travel in opposite directions, means for carrying the cans between the said brushes to cause the latter to engage the cans on opposite sides and rotate and clean the cans, and a cover extending over the open ends of the cans during theirpassage between the brushes.

2. A can-Washing machine, having a frame oppositely and movably arranged endless brushes mounted on the frame, and adapted to be adjusted toward or from each other, a feed-belt for carrying the cans between and along the said brushes, and a vertically and laterallyadj ustable cover for closing the open ends of the said cans, as set forth.

3. A can-washing machine having a frame, pulleys mounted thereon, a belt carried on the pulleys and having brushes, a plate slidable on the frame, pulleys supported by the plate, a belt turning around the latter pulleys and having brushes thereon, a feed-belt passin g between the two brush-belts, and a driveshaft extending transversely and geared with the pulleys of the two brush-belts, the gearing between the drive-shaft and the secondnamedbrush-belt being capable of sliding 011 the drive-shaft as the plate moves with reference to the frame, substantially as described.

4. A can-washin g machine having a frame, a brush, a feed-belt running adjacent to the brush, and a cover held above the feed-belt and having the cans passed beneath it whereby the cover serves to close the open ends of the cans, substantially as described.

FRANK ANTHONY SEUFER'I.

Witnesses:

JAMES B. CONDON, .T. V. CONDON. 

